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Synonyms

oxide

American  
[ok-sahyd, -sid] / ˈɒk saɪd, -sɪd /
Also oxid

noun

Chemistry.

  1. a compound in which oxygen is bonded to one or more electropositive atoms.

oxide British  
/ ˈɒksaɪd /

noun

  1. any compound of oxygen with another element

  2. any organic compound in which an oxygen atom is bound to two alkyl or aryl groups; an ether or epoxide

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
oxide Scientific  
/ ŏk′sīd′ /

  1. A compound of oxygen and another element or radical. Water (H 2 O) is an oxide.

Other Word Forms

  • oxidic adjective

Etymology

Origin of oxide

First recorded in 1780–90; from French (now oxyde ), blend of ox(ygène) oxygen and (ac)ide acid

Vocabulary lists containing oxide

Unit 5, Week 3

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Last month, Lynas began producing samarium oxide, a difficult-to-source rare earth in high military demand that is used in heat-resistant magnets for jet fighters and missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

The researchers found that graphene oxide carries out what they describe as "selective antibacterial action."

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026

They were named for their structural resemblance to perovskites, a broader class of oxide materials widely studied in materials science.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

USA Rare Earth’s CEO stated the deal advances its integrated value chain, aiming for Europe’s first rare earth oxide and metal-making platform.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

On their thirtieth wedding anniversary, George gave Margaret a check for one hundred dollars, along with a note scribbled on the back of an aluminum oxide wrapper: “Next 30 years not as rough. Love, George.”

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.